IT Certifications and Careers (Official Discussion Thread)

[Mr Rager]

Anyone working in Cyber Security? What's the field like (hours/pay/hoes etc)? I have no certs but I'm going to start with CompTIA A+ and then work on Security +...anyone got any recommendations for the best study materials for these?

 

[Apollo Creed]

Anyone working in Cyber Security? What's the field like (hours/pay/hoes etc)? I have no certs but I'm going to start with CompTIA A+ and then work on Security +...anyone got any recommendations for the best study materials for these?

If you looking for women go work in a hospital lol

 

[Mainevent_7]

Anyone working in Cyber Security? What's the field like (hours/pay/hoes etc)? I have no certs but I'm going to start with CompTIA A+ and then work on Security +...anyone got any recommendations for the best study materials for these?

I do. Cybersecurity consultant, 40 hours billable and sometimes non-billable hours. The pay is great for only having 2 years of security experience. Salary range in the security field can range from 50k-250k+ depending on what you do and what type of experience you have.

 

[Billy Preston]

I do. Cybersecurity consultant, 40 hours billable and sometimes non-billable hours. The pay is great for only having 2 years of security experience. Salary range in the security field can range from 50k-250k+ depending on what you do and what type of experience you have.

I thought about going the Cybersecurity route. Do you agree with getting all of these certs in this order: CSA+, Network+, Security+.

 

[ben anderson]

I do. Cybersecurity consultant, 40 hours billable and sometimes non-billable hours. The pay is great for only having 2 years of security experience. Salary range in the security field can range from 50k-250k+ depending on what you do and what type of experience you have.

can you list what certs i should get in order and how long it would take to get them. i have plenty of free time for studying.

 

[Mr Rager]

I do. Cybersecurity consultant, 40 hours billable and sometimes non-billable hours. The pay is great for only having 2 years of security experience. Salary range in the security field can range from 50k-250k+ depending on what you do and what type of experience you have.

How's the work environment? Stressful, relaxed? Work/life balance is a big deal imo. Do you feel the work gets monotonous? Are there a lot of brehs where you work?

 

[Mainevent_7]

I thought about going the Cybersecurity route. Do you agree with getting all of these certs in this order: CSA+, Network+, Security+.

After looking at the comptia website the order should go: net+, sec+, CSA+
But I did some more research and not many jobs are checking for the csa+

can you list what certs i should get in order and how long it would take to get them. i have plenty of free time for studying.

I only, have my security+ right now, So I'm not the best person to ask that question. I'm trying to finish up my masters this summer so I can dedicated my full attention to the CISSP.
But the security+ can be knocked out in less than a month of studying. If you don't have a strong understanding of networking, it wouldn't hurt to study for the net+ but not necessary to take the exam.

How's the work environment? Stressful, relaxed? Work/life balance is a big deal imo. Do you feel the work gets monotonous? Are there a lot of brehs where you work?

During the busy season, consulting can become very stressful or when the client has some crazy deadline you need to meet. No 2 days are the same. I'm on the federal side so I only bill 40 hours a week unless overtime is needed. I know people on the commercial side that bill and travel alot more than me. One of my boy gets to travel to other countries for work sometimes. There are times when work/life balance becomes non existence but I'm typically good at not checking work emails after a certain time or working on the weekends. My boss is very flexible in my schedule. Some days I will work from home, other days I will be on client site, other days I will work a few hours at home then head into the main office for a few hours then go back home. As long as I bill 40 hours they aren't really tripping when I work as long as I attend at meetings that I'm required to attend. Since I'm in the Dc area we have a large population of the brehs, but on a global scale we are a very small percentage.

 

[Splash]

Anyone got an experience with auditing?

 

[se1f_made]

After looking at the comptia website the order should go: net+, sec+, CSA+
But I did some more research and not many jobs are checking for the csa+


I only, have my security+ right now, So I'm not the best person to ask that question. I'm trying to finish up my masters this summer so I can dedicated my full attention to the CISSP.
But the security+ can be knocked out in less than a month of studying. If you don't have a strong understanding of networking, it wouldn't hurt to study for the net+ but not necessary to take the exam.



During the busy season, consulting can become very stressful or when the client has some crazy deadline you need to meet. No 2 days are the same. I'm on the federal side so I only bill 40 hours a week unless overtime is needed. I know people on the commercial side that bill and travel alot more than me. One of my boy gets to travel to other countries for work sometimes. There are times when work/life balance becomes non existence but I'm typically good at not checking work emails after a certain time or working on the weekends. My boss is very flexible in my schedule. Some days I will work from home, other days I will be on client site, other days I will work a few hours at home then head into the main office for a few hours then go back home. As long as I bill 40 hours they aren't really tripping when I work as long as I attend at meetings that I'm required to attend. Since I'm in the Dc area we have a large population of the brehs, but on a global scale we are a very small percentage.

There's a MSP that's looking to hire me but I'm hesitant to leave my current role that's laid back and easy on the workflow load. The consulting job would pay more but I'm completating on if the added stress will even be worth it. How long have you been at your current role?

 

[Billy Preston]

After looking at the comptia website the order should go: net+, sec+, CSA+
But I did some more research and not many jobs are checking for the csa+


I only, have my security+ right now, So I'm not the best person to ask that question. I'm trying to finish up my masters this summer so I can dedicated my full attention to the CISSP.
But the security+ can be knocked out in less than a month of studying. If you don't have a strong understanding of networking, it wouldn't hurt to study for the net+ but not necessary to take the exam.



During the busy season, consulting can become very stressful or when the client has some crazy deadline you need to meet. No 2 days are the same. I'm on the federal side so I only bill 40 hours a week unless overtime is needed. I know people on the commercial side that bill and travel alot more than me. One of my boy gets to travel to other countries for work sometimes. There are times when work/life balance becomes non existence but I'm typically good at not checking work emails after a certain time or working on the weekends. My boss is very flexible in my schedule. Some days I will work from home, other days I will be on client site, other days I will work a few hours at home then head into the main office for a few hours then go back home. As long as I bill 40 hours they aren't really tripping when I work as long as I attend at meetings that I'm required to attend. Since I'm in the Dc area we have a large population of the brehs, but on a global scale we are a very small percentage.

Would we pretty much have to start out in a help desk role even if we obtain the Network+ and Security+?

 

[Mainevent_7]

Anyone got an experience with auditing?

IT auditing?

 

[Mainevent_7]

There's a MSP that's looking to hire me but I'm hesitant to leave my current role that's laid back and easy on the workflow load. The consulting job would pay more but I'm completating on if the added stress will even be worth it. How long have you been at your current role?

Only 3 months. I left my old firm to join one of their competitors.

 

[Mainevent_7]

Would we pretty much have to start out in a help desk role even if we obtain the Network+ and Security+?

It depends what your background is in. I had a degree in computer science. So I started off in data analytics.

 

[xXMASHERXx]

Anyone working in Cyber Security? What's the field like (hours/pay/hoes etc)? I have no certs but I'm going to start with CompTIA A+ and then work on Security +...anyone got any recommendations for the best study materials for these?

I work cyber security for a medium sized company.

Hours: I'm on call 24/7 but have the flexibility to work from home

Pay: Pay is great since there is so much demand for security people

Hoes: Like someone said above if you're looking for hoes go be a tech at a hospital.

I have my A+ and Security+(want to get CCNA Security this year). I would say Security+ is a good start. It also helps to have knowledge in other areas of IT as well depending on what your focus will be. I focus mainly on endpoint security and incident response so Windows knowledge helps tremendously. Anyways if you have other questions let me know.

 

[Billy Preston]

I work cyber security for a medium sized company.

Hours: I'm on call 24/7 but have the flexibility to work from home

Pay: Pay is great since there is so much demand for security people

Hoes: Like someone said above if you're looking for hoes go be a tech at a hospital.

I have my A+ and Security+(want to get CCNA Security this year). I would say Security+ is a good start. It also helps to have knowledge in other areas of IT as well depending on what your focus will be. I focus mainly on endpoint security and incident response so Windows knowledge helps tremendously. Anyways if you have other questions let me know.

Props on the info. Did you get your start at entry level help desk? All I have is an A+ and I'm currently studying for Network+ and then I'll knock out the Security+.